Friday Fictioneers – Loab

~ neilmacdon
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

The mists part, and there she is—Loab. A creature from our nightmares, red of cheek with sunken eyes. Where did she spring from? Has she always existed in the jumble of our subconscious, revealed now by artificial intelligence? Or is she a cryptid, summoned into existence by the yearning of the machine?

“Mother?” I croon softly to her and caress the screen.

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For more on Loab, the bizarre old woman image created by AI see

Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here

39 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – Loab”

      1. You’re welcome 😊 keeping up with the stories here is a job! I’m addicted to this prompt page now though…so much good reading and inspiration for writing. ✍️ 🙂

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  4. Haunting indeed. There are echos from the film ‘Psyhco’ in your last sentence.
    AI is the figment of the machine’s imagination or perhaps is it the programer’s act of rebellion against advanced technology?–Both are haunting because we need to know; who is in control?

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  10. Neil, one of your best stories yet. Brilliant writing. My son’s been using a website called Discord to create images for a game he’s working on. The banner I’m using for the Halloween story during October was created using it, with the terms “mermaid” and “Medusa.” After my first try with this one, I’m reluctant to unleash more 🙂

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      1. You’re very welcome. When I see how electronics have taken over the lives of kids and adults, the virtual reality (AI art) aspect and kids being orphaned by parents who choose internet over them your story really did strike a chord.

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  14. Spooky story. Had to check your link to Loab. There’s a Snapchat filter that you can use to make yourself into the image of Laob. Stuff of nightmares.

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